Lightning-rod joints



\N. E. SMETH.

Lightning Rod.

Patented Oct. 10, 1865.

wine/6665 Evan/Z277- PATENT OFFICE.

N. E. SMITH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LiGHTNlNG-ROD JOINTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,398, dated October 10, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, N. E. SMITH, of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain ,new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Rods; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specitica tion, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are perspectiveviews of the rod. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views.

My improvement relates to a new mode of connecting the sections of a lightning-rod, whereby one continuous hollow rod is formed without projections on the outside to obstruct the currents.

I do not claim forming connections by means of a solid or hollow tenon or dowel made separate from the rod and then inserted into the end of each section otthe rod to be united and secured by screws or otherwise; hutwhat distinguishes my invention is in compressing the end of a section of the rod, as represented at bin Fig.1,where the end of the sectionis compressed i'rom. a to a, forming the end of the rod into a tenon that is to be inserted in the open end of another section, as B, the tenou fitting down close inside, and the end a of the section B coming against the shoulder a, formed by the rod beingthus compressed into a tenon, which is a part of the body of the rod. When the compressed end of one section of the rod, as A, is inserted in the end of another, as B, the sections are united, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, which are then secured by making an indenture around the rod by means of tongs or pinchers for this purpose, and whichis very readily done. The indenture is made about the middle of where the sections overlap, as represented at c, where the sections B and C were united in a similar manner to A and B,

and then indentured round. Theinside or tenonw part is indented the same as the'outside, rendering the connection most secure.

This mode offormingacontinuouslightningrod bycompressing the end of one section and inserting it in the end of another asitis setup, and securing the connections by being inden ted, as described, has many advantages. It forms a hollow rod of very simple construction. The connections are most readilymade and secured. It is a very light rod, and, being hollow, the water or anydampness that may condense on the inside is allowed to run down and not lodge on any project-ions or solid connections, where it would be liable to corrode the metal more or less. There are no projections on the outside forwater to lodge on or to obstruct the currents of electricity.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Gonnecting the sectionsof lightning-rods as herein specified.

N. E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, A. W. MOOLELLAND. 

